Keith Jarrett recommendation

Staircase has always been my favorite Jarrett release, although Facing You and My Song are close. It seems to me as a pianist that Jarrett visits another place than he seems to in his live gigs (ie, Koln Concert), not so much playing for the crowd (despite his vehement denials) and even his vocal histronics seem more restrained.

Side 2 (of 4), which is entitled "Hourglass" is one of my two or three favorite jazz piano works I've heard to date. Bought it on ECM vinyl when it was released way back when. Just breathtaking. Whenever I get the feeling that:

1) the piano has nothing left to yield, or
2) keyboards (ie. my Kurzweil 2600) offer much more varied timbres, or
3) I want to pick up another instrument that allows more direct contact with the music

Hourglass reminds me the piano is indeed "the entire orchestra in one instrument", as one composer once commented.

Sorry to get so worked up. Staircase/Hourglass/Sundial/Sand is a very special release indeed.

Ok, I couldn't resist. Here's the last paragraph of Rolling Stone's (!) review of Staircase:

"Jarrett reaches a peak of eloquence in the second section of "Hourglass," where a wandering nocturnal theme, two parts Fauré to one part Bill Evans, gradually kaleidoscopes into a fragile, repetitive motif, then returns to its original form like the folding and opening of a flower. This piece alone reaffirms Jarrett's position as contemporary music's foremost elegist. (RS 251)"

"Standards Vol 1" is a pretty hip recording. Jack DeJohnette and Gary Peacock are highly innovative throughtout.

I just found a mint copy of Keith Jarrett "Staircase" at GEMM.

I looked at AMG to be certain I had the correct title and the review there almost caused me to cancel the order. In this case I'll take the opinion of a fellow Audiogon member.

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=12:31:59|AM&sql=A0w5zefyk7gfn

Albert:

"One's man's treasure...", right?

I wonder how that particular reviewer views the larger context of Jarrett's complete body or work?

Other delights I found about Staircase is the wonderful timbre of the particular instrument used for the recording. If memory serves (which is becoming particularly more difficult as I age), this may have been recorded on a rosewood Hamburg Steinway with a distintly singing, cantabile tone which stunned me the first time I heard it.

Let us know what you think after you get a chance to digest it. I'm interested to hear your comments.

Tim